India

India Country Facts At-a-Glance

Geography: India is located in Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Myanmar (Burma) and Pakistan. The terrain consists of upland plains (Deccan Plateau) in the south, flat to rolling plains along the Ganges, deserts in the west, and the Himalayas in the north.

Capital City: New Delhi

Population: 1.4 billion (2023 est.)

Languages:

• Hindi 41%
• Bengali 8.1%
• Telugu 7.2%
• Marathi 7%
• Tamil 5.9%
• Urdu 5%
• Gujarati 4.5%
• Kannada 3.7%
• Malayalam 3.2%
• Oriya 3.2%
• Punjabi 2.8%
• Assamese 1.3%
• Maithili 1.2%
• Other 5.9%

English is the subsidiary official language and, along with Hindi, is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication.

Religions:

• Hindu 79.8%
• Muslim 14.2%
• Christian 2.3%
• Sikh 1.7%
• Other 2%

Ethnic Groups:

• Indo-Aryan 72%
• Dravidian 25%
• Mongoloid and other 3%

Life Expectancy: 70 years

Literacy Rate: 77.7% (2021 est.)

Government: Federal Republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal

Current Head of State:

• President Droupadi Murmu (since July 2022)
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi (since May 2014)

Independence: August 15, 1947 (from the United Kingdom)

Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)

GDP per Capita: $7,200 USD (2023 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 7.5% (2023 est.)

GDP – Composition by Sector:

• Agriculture 15.4% – rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions, potatoes, dairy products, sheep, goats, poultry, fish
• Industry 25.9% – textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals
• Services 58.7% – information technology services and software

Sources: CIA World Factbook, World Bank

India Country Basics

India, officially known as the Republic of India, is a vibrant country in South Asia. It is the world’s second-most populous country with over 1.3 billion people.

India’s geography is incredibly diverse. From the towering Himalayan mountains to the north, fertile plains along the Ganges and other rivers, to dense forests, vast deserts, and a long coastline along the Indian Ocean. The country shares borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

Brief History 

India has an incredibly rich history dating back to as early as 3300 B.C. The Indus Valley, in the northwest of the country, is one of the world’s earliest cradles of civilization.

The Gupta Dynasty ruled from the 4th to 6th centuries during what was known as the Golden Age of science and art in India. Turks and Afghans established the Delhi Sultanate during the 10th and 11th centuries and in the early 16th century, Emperor Babur established the Mughal Dynasty, ruling India for more than 300 years.

Later in the 16th century, Europeans began to explore India. Despite Indian resistance, in 1857 the British took control over India. It remained under British rule for almost 100 years before years of nonviolent protest, famously led by Mohandas Gandhi, eventually led to independence in 1947. Upon gaining independence, India separated into two countries: a secular, Hindu majority India and an Islamic Pakistan. The two countries have had a turbulent history, with many conflicts and skirmishes centered in the rugged Himalayan mountains of Kashmir. Since 1991, India’s government has focused on policies leading to rapid economic growth and the country is increasingly regarded as an important emerging power on the international scene.

Cultural Expectations 

Indian culture is renowned for its ancient traditions, classical music and dance, art, philosophy, and spirituality. The country celebrates many large and colorful festivals, including Diwali, Holi, Eid, and more.

While in India, you can expect…  

to eat with your hands and bargain at all stores, markets, and vendors. Expect to be warmly welcomed, served chai and food, and treated with respect, interest, and curiosity. Atithi Devo Bhavan (Guest is God), is a Sanskrit verse that has become part of the code of conduct in India at large.

While in India, locals will expect you…  

to respect their customs and values. Ask questions and be open to talking about a variety of topics, and to be curious and interested in their country. Also, remember to use your right hand when eating and receiving food and to keep your knees and shoulders covered.

Cultural Icon: Mahatma Gandhi was the primary leader of the Indian nationalist movement in British-ruled India. His peaceful form of civil disobedience inspired people all over the world, including Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, and Aung San Suu Kyi.

Hot Topics in India

• Urban industry grows while rural poverty remains an issue. Slightly less than half of the workforce in India is in agriculture, but services are the major source of economic growth. The service industry accounts for more than half of India’s GDP, while only employing one-third of its labor force. India’s economy has been bolstered by its strength in information technology and many international companies outsource work to India. While this has built up an urban middle class, most of India’s population still remains impoverished throughout the rural countryside.
• With the 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) deadline passed, India has shown a mixed bag of successes and failures in meeting the development targets. India successfully halved the level of poverty in the country and promoted gender equality in education, but fell short on reducing infant mortality, reducing the number of people suffering from hunger, and improving maternal health. The goals are complex and are contested in many political and academic camps. While some point to a lack of funding, others suggest that gender, caste, and geographical inequities have led to uneven development and progress throughout the country.
• In May of 2014, India elected Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. It was the world’s largest exercise in democracy, with a 66 percent voter turnout of of over 500 million voters. With Modi in power, there are high hopes that the new government will bring changes to corruption and inefficient government spending and policies.
• India grapples with challenges like air and water pollution, deforestation, and habitat loss amidst rapid urbanization and economic growth. Efforts to address these issues include policies promoting renewable energy adoption and initiatives aimed at reducing pollution. India’s role in global climate change negotiations and its commitment to sustainable development are also crucial topics of discussion. However, balancing economic growth with environmental conservation remains a complex challenge.

Food and Drink in India

Indian foods vary greatly from region to region. Generally, in the north there are curries and more breads like roti and naan. Rice and veggie combinations are a staple of the south. Popular cuisine in Kerala includes seafood, coconut, rice, and tapioca. In Rajasthan, daal-baati, a hard bread is served with a sweet mixture of wheat, sugar, and ghee called choorma.

Chai is perhaps the most beloved beverage in India. It’s a spiced tea made with black tea leaves, milk, sugar, and a blend of aromatic spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. Lassi is a traditional Indian yogurt-based drink. It comes in two main varieties: sweet lassi, which is blended with sugar or fruits, and salty lassi, seasoned with spices and salt. Mango lassi is a popular variation.

Some popular Indian foods include:

• Curries
• Biryani (flavorful rice dish with meat or vegetables)
• Tandoori (Meat or vegetables marinated in a mixture of yogurt and spices, and cooked in a clay oven)
• Paneer (a fresh cheese widely used in vegetarian dishes)
• Dosa (thin, crispy pancakes)
• Idli (soft, steamed rice cakes)
• Samosas (fried pastries filled with spiced potatoes, peas, and sometimes meat)
• Chaat (a variety of savory snacks)
• Dal (a variety of lentil-based dishes)

Language 

India is a linguistically diverse nation with hundreds of languages spoken across the country. There are 22 official languages total, with Hindi and English among them. Hindi is the most widely spoken, and English is the language used for national, political, and commercial communication.

A few key phrases in Hindi are listed below.

• Although there are 22 official languages, Hindi is the predominant language in most of the areas Rustic Pathways travels. A few key phrases are listed below to get you started.Greetings
  • Hello (Namaste – nuh-muh-stay)
  • How are you? (Aap kaise hain? – ahp kai-say hain?)
  • Good night (Shubh ratri – shoob rah-tree)
  • Goodbye (Namaste – nuh-muh-stay

  Etiquette

  • Please (Krupya – kroo-pyuh)
  • Thank you (Dhanyavad – dahn-yah-vahd)
  • Excuse me (Maaf kijiye – mahf kee-jee-yeh)
  • Sorry (Maaf kijiye – mahf kee-jee-yeh)

  Pronouns

  • I (Main – mine)
  • You (Aap – ahp)
  • He/she (Vo – voh)
  • We (Hum – hum)
  • You (plural) (Aap log – ahp lohg)
  • They (Ve – vay)

  Conversational

  • What is your name? (Aapka naam kya hai? – ahp-kah nahm kya hai?)
  • My name is ___. (Mera naam ___ hai. – may-rah nahm ___ hai.)
  • Where are you from? (Aap kahan se hain? – ahp kah-hahn say hain?)
  • I am from ___. (Main ___ se hoon. – mine ___ say hoon.)
  • How old are you? (Aapki umra kya hai? – ahp-kee oom-rah kya hai?)
  • I am ___ years old. (Meri umra ___ saal hai. – may-ree oom-rah ___ sahl hai.)
  • Do you speak English? (Kya aapko agrezi aati hai? – kyah ahp-koh agrezi ah-tee hai?)
  • I speak a little Hindi. (Mujhe thodi Hindi aati hai. – moo-jhay thoh-dee Hindi ah-tee hai.)

  Useful

  • Could you repeat that please? (Phir se boliye? – feer say boh-lee-yay?)
  • How do you say ___ in Hindi? (Hindi mein ___ kaise kahte hain? – Hindi may ___ ky-say kah-tay hain?)
  • I don’t understand. (Mujhe samajh me nahin aaya. – moo-jhay suh-majh may nah-hin ah-yah.)
  • I want to go to ___. (Main ___ jana chahta hoon. – mine ___ jah-nah chah-tah hoon.)
  • Where is ? (___ kahan hai? – ___ kah-hahn hai?)
  • I would like ___. (Mujhe ___ chahiye. – moo-jhay ___ chah-hee-yay.)
  • How much is it? (Ye kitna hai? – yay kit-nah hai?)

  Present tense

  • To eat (Khaana – kah-na)
  • I eat (Main khaata hoon – mine kah-tah hoon)
  • You (informal) eat (Tum khaate ho – toom kah-tay ho)
  • You (formal) eat (Aap khaate hain – ahp kah-tay hain)
  • He eats (Voh khaata hai – voh kah-tah hai)
  • She eats (Voh khaati hai – voh kah-tee hai)
  • They eat (Ve khaate hain – vay kah-tay hain)

  Feelings

  I am___. (Mujhe ___ lug rahaa hai.)

  • cold (Thand – tund)
  • hot (Garam – guh-ruhm)
  • sleepy (Neend aa rahi hai – neend ah rah-hee hai)
  • hungry (Bhookh – book)
  • thirsty (Pyas – pyahs)
  • angry (Gussa – guhs-suh)
  • happy (Khushi – koo-shee)
  • sad (Udas – oo-dahs)
  • tired (Thak gaya – tuh-kh gah-yah)

Ethnic Groups

One of the largest ethnic groups in India are Indo-Aryans primarily living in north and central India. This group makes up 72 percent of the population. 25 percent are Dravidian, primarily living in the south and parts of east India.

Religion

India is the birthplace of major religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It is also home to Muslim, Christian, and other religious communities.

Today, the breakdown in the country is:

79.8 percent Hindu, 14.2 percent Muslim, 2.3 percent Christian, 1.7 percent Sikh 1.7% and two percent other and unspecified.

Currency 

The currency of India is the Indian Rupee (INR). The word ‘rupee’ is derived from the Sanskrit word “rupyakam,” which means “silver coin.”

The currency’s bills have been updated with new designs over time. In 2016, the Indian government introduced new rupee bills, all featuring Mahatma Gandhi. The new bills were also smaller in size than previous versions.

Different denominations of the bills come in different colors. The options are ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200, ₹500, though some small vendors don’t appreciate being given the bills with larger denominations since it’s hard to make change. In 2023 the Reserve Bank of India made the decision to withdraw ₹2000 bills from circulation.

There also are coins of ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10. Exchange rates fluctuate.

When buying items, keep in mind that bargaining is the norm in many locations in India since there are no price tags.

Did You Know?

• India is the world’s largest democracy and second most populous country (with more people than all of Africa combined). It is also the largest English-speaking nation on the planet.
• The world’s first university was established at Takshasila in 700 B.C.
• India has 22 official languages, over 1,000 dialects, and 5 different language families!
• The English words shampoo, pajama, juggernaut, and khaki are all derived from Hindi or Urdu.
• The Indian movie industry, known as “Bollywood,” produces approximately 1,000 films every year, more than the United States, France, Italy and China combined.
• It is more common to ask someone for directions than to use a map in India. It is a very verbal culture, and people will frequently ask to find out how to get to a location in the city, to a particular landmark, house, or even the local market.
• Nearly everything in India can be bargained for, though this is changing in urban centers with the introduction of larger “box” stores and chains.
• Cows can be found roaming the streets in India. They are considered a sacred animal and are a Hindu symbol of good fortune.
• Despite its size, all of India lies under one time zone.